Volunteers, including mayor, recognized for their service

Mayor Chris Garcia was spending part of Monday's Basehor City Council meeting recognizing volunteers in various endeavors when he was recognized himself.

Austin McCoy, a fourth-grader at Basehor Elementary School and Garcia's YouthFriend, paid the mayor a visit to present him with an award. The mayor is a part of the organization in which adults spend at least one hour a week helping a student.

"We read together, talk about what's going on at school and set goals for grades and AR (accelerated reader)," Garcia said.

When McCoy surpassed a previous accelerated reader goal the two had set, Garcia said, he brought the youth lunch at school. Many students couldn't believe McCoy had lunch with the mayor, Garcia said.

The city recognized several volunteers in a reception at Monday's meeting as a part of National Volunteer Week April 15 through 21.

"April is volunteer month," Garcia said. "We're trying to recognize volunteers in the city. These people do a lot for various organizations within the city and spend a lot of time away from their families to do so. We just want to say we appreciate that and we're always looking for more."

Garcia handed certificates out to each individual or group.

Jeremy McDowell and Mike Martin, owners of Independent Tournaments, and board members Steve Henley, Mike Chumley, Ty Garver, Kevin Reed and Brian Shore were recognized for their work with the Basehor Athletic Association.

Harry and Dee Lewis accepted an award for the work they do with the local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post.

Chuck Wilderson and Frances Rake accepted the recognition of the Gold PRIDE community service group made up of volunteers 55 years old or older.

George Smith from Basehor PRIDE was also recognized as well as Debbie Breuer for her fundraising efforts as last year's chairperson of Basehor Dairy Days.

John Klinkenberg with the Kiwanis Club and Ron Milbourn with the Lions Club were recognized for their community service efforts.

The Trinity Family Learning Center, including Rita Bolay, Karen Herrs, Pam Spickelmier and Van O'Brien, was awarded for its work with children, and appointed volunteers from the Basehor Planning Commission, the Board of Zoning Appeals and Park Advisory Board were acknowledged.

Volunteers will be recognized in different ways throughout the month of April and into May.

BES will be setting up a tiki hut full of treats to show appreciation for their high school Care Cat volunteers April 24 and 25.

Linwood Elementary School will be hosting a luncheon April 20 for their Para educators.

YouthFriends coordinator Tammy Potts said the YouthFriends and Care Cats Appreciation Luncheon would be from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, May 7, at the Basehor-Linwood High School Library. Hosted by Bev Chapman of the KMBC 9 News team, the luncheon will have the theme of "Super Heroic Efforts."

"Hopefully this will show high school kids that they can come back and be an extreme value," Potts said. "It should be a good powerful luncheon."